Development of a Computational Method for Prediction of After-Burning Effect Navy STTR FY2010.A Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2010.A Topic No.: N10A-T002 Topic Title: Development of a Computational Method for Prediction of After-Burning Effect Proposal No.: N10A-002-0244 Firm: Strategic Insight, Ltd. 241 18th Street, South Suite 511 Arlington, Virginia 22202 Contact: John Croghan Phone: (703) 413-0700 Web Site: www.stratsight.com Abstract: The research objective is to develop a fully functional computational method for prediction of the after-burning effect of different fuels in a wide range of temperature, pressure, and turbulence regimes. Achievement of the objective requires understanding and modeling of key phenomena including (a) post-detonation response of the fuels, (b) near-field coupling of detonation products with particulates, (c) compressibility influences on dispersal of fuels, (d) gas-particle instability mechanisms and turbulent mixing, and (d) diffusion-limited and kinetics-limited ignition, burn and quenching mechanisms for elevated temperature, pressure and cross-flow. A predictive capability would be useful to a broad spectrum of military and non-military applications, including warhead design and lethality/vulnerability assessments. An important commercial application is avoidance of dust explosion accidents causing deaths, injuries and property damage/loss in industries as diverse as mining, agricultural grain storage and wood and plastics processing. Benefits: Understanding the physics and chemistry of the deflagration to detonation to after-burn sequence and having the capability to predict the effects benefits a potentially large market of defense and non-defense applications. Within the Department of Defense, the ability to predict the after-burn effect of different fuels offers a means to perform a degree of tailoring of effects to enhance target damage or minimize collateral damage. Conversely, predicting after-burn effects is applicable to force protection and national infrastructure protection of critical assets (e.g., electrical grid) and high value targets (e.g., national monuments). In addition, understanding the combustion to detonation phenomena in particle laden environments such as grain silos or coal mines, and predicting combustible dust events will benefit occupational health and safety communities in many industries. Return